Dordrecht

Dordrecht is a historic city in South Holland, Netherlands that was, at the end of the Middle Ages, one of the six important trade cities of the County of Holland. Its centre still shows off the rich history of the city.

Understand

Dordrecht is a really old city that grew wealthy on its position at a river confluence with important commercial, military and private boat building. It held significant regional and international importance, hosting the 'Synod of Dordrecht' and other important religious meetings.

Thankfully, it escaped much of the widespread destruction of the Second World War. Consequently, it is brimming with interesting old architecture and displays an old-time sense of wealth that belies the peaceful and laid-back character of its modern-day economic relaxation. The locals are educated and generally proud of their city, which is the sort of place to wander around and explore leisurely, rather than rushing in and out.

Get in

By rail
  • 🌍 Dordrecht railway station. A direct rail service from Rotterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Blaak takes about 15 minutes. There is a direct service from Amsterdam Centraal via The Hague and Rotterdam Centraal with the terminus in Dordrecht. There is also a direct service from Gorinchem, Roosendaal and Breda. (updated Mar 2024)

By boat

There is a fast ferry (waterbus) from Rotterdam, which is part of the public transport system and costs the same as the train.

By car

Two important highways go to and through Dordrecht. A16 from Rotterdam to Belgium border and N3 from Papendrecht to the A16 in Dordrecht.

Get around

While the city is small enough to walk around, if you are in a hurry or have a lot of bags, consider the frequent buses which serve the city and nearby areas. Also, bicycles can be rented from a bike shop next to the train station (€50 deposit).

Qbuzz has timetables and maps of buses in the region.

See

There are nearly 900 listed buildings in the city. There are also a few other museums about town, plus some interesting shops, parks, an old windmill, and a few boat harbours (havens in Dutch). There's a huge supply of ancient architecture which you will see everywhere with years and Dutch language explanations. (If interested in specifics, get a local to translate for you.)

Highlights
  • 🌍 Grote Kerk (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk), Lange Geldersekade 2. Apr-Oct Tu-Sa 10:30-16:30, Su 12:00-16:00; Nov-Dec: Tu Th Sa 14:00-16:00. A church in the Brabantine Gothic style with an unfinished tower. Also known as the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe-Kerk ('Our Dear Lady Church') or the Grote Kerk ('Great Church') was built between 1285 and 1470. The 65-m tower contains a carillon with 67 bells including one weighing 9.83 tonnes, making it the heaviest bell in the Netherlands. Be sure you're in shape to climb the tower and not afraid of close spaces. The steps are steep and there is only one way up, or down. You can see the medieval clock in operation. In the church, see the brilliant stained glass windows and especially the modern window dedicated to the guilds of Dordrecht. Church: Admission to church and tower: €4. (updated Jul 2023)
  • 🌍 Grote Markt, Northeastern end of Varkenmarkt. The larger synagogue of the city used to stand here, which presumably formed the centre of the local Jewish population (apparently over 300 people prior to the war), but it was heavily damaged by the Nazis, sold in 1947 and razed in 1965. Nothing remains except new buildings, which are out of character from the surrounding old architecture. 
  • 🌍 Dordrechts Museum, Museumstraat 40, ☏ +31 78 7708708. Tu–Su 11:00–17:00. Loads of locally affiliated oil paintings, mostly pre-modern and of impressive quality. These are interspersed with occasional bits of decorative metalwork, furniture and such. A dedicated gallery houses temporary exhibitions which are often very well presented. The impressive garden outside offers a cafe/restaurant with an extensive menu. €12; + Het Hof van Nederland and Huis Van Gijn €15. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Het Hof van Nederland, Hof 6. Tu–Su 11:00–17:00. Het Hof was an Augustinian monastery where in 1572 a notable meeting was held of representatives of the "Free States" who were revolting against King Philip II of Spain. Since 2015 it has been a museum. €10; also see Dordrechts Museum. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Augustijnenkerk (Church of the Augustins). Built around 1293, it is owned by the Dutch Reformed Church. The church was part of the Augustinian Monastery Het Hof (see above). (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Huis Van Gijn, Nieuwe Haven 29. Tu–Su 11:00–17:00. The former house of a banker and collector Simon van Gijn. €10; also see Dordrechts Museum. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Museum 1940 - 1945, Nieuwe Haven 27-28, ☏ +31 78-6130172. Tu W F-Su 10:00-17:00. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Second World War in or around Dordrecht, plus a large display of items such as weapons, improvised mills and cooking equipment, and variously sourced period products and ration packs. A whole section is devoted to the history of Merwestein Park (then Merwepark), which was used as a regional Nazi communications bunker. A group of older local residents act as volunteer guides. Some speak English. €3. (updated Jun 2016)

Other sites
  • 🌍 Stadhuis (Town Hall). (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Groothoofdspoort. A former city gate located at the confluence of the 3 rivers: Merwede, Oude Maas and Noord. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Almshouses (hofjes) (Between Bagijnhof and Vriesestraat). Almshouses were built in the 17th and 18th centuries for poor women. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Arend Maartenszhof (Arend Maartensz Court). Another almshouse. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Nieuwbrug. A cast-iron bridge over the Wijnhaven/Voorstraatshaven built in 1851. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Dordts Patriciërshuis, Wolwevershaven 9. May-Sep: Tu-Su 13:00-17:00; Oct-Apr: W-Su 13:00-17:00. The late 18th-century rich residence with many original period features. €7.50. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Munt van Hollant. Between 14th and early 19th centuries, it was a mint court of Holland and Zeeland (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 't Zeepaert, Wijnstraat 113. Built around 1495, it is one of the oldest houses in the county. Now it's a conference venue. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Kyck over den Dyck (View over the Dike). It is the only remaining mill in the city (updated Jun 2016)

Parks
  • 🌍 Park Merwestein (Merwesteinpark). 19th-century park in which a building stood until its eventual destruction by Allied bombardment in 1944. The bombing was due to the Nazis developing a significant bunker system throughout the park (apparently using Jewish slaves) which they then used as an important regional military communications hub during the war. Many local citizens lost their lives in the bombing, which also killed children when an adjacent school was accidentally bombed. This history can be explored in more detail at the 1944-1945 museum: nothing of significance is displayed in the park, which today features many large trees, some sculptures (including a tall column at the former location of the building pictured), a children's play area, significant stock of waterbirds, and a reindeer enclosure. (updated Feb 2020)
  • 🌍 Wantijpark. Park and summertime music venue slightly out of town. Worth a wander. 
  • 🌍 De Biesbosch (National Park De Biesbosch) (take bus #10 from Dordrecht Central Station to Merwedekade, then take an hourly water bus: from Merwekade (in Dordrecht) or from Middeldiep (in Sliedrecht) to the Biesbosch). The Sliedrechtse Biesbosch, east of Dordrecht, and the Dordtse Biesbosch, south of Dordrecht, together form the Hollandse Biesbosch which is a part of the national park the Biesbosch, one of the largest national parks in the Netherlands and one of the last freshwater tide areas in Europe. The Dordtse Biesbosch has several recreational areas that are used for walking, rowing and swimming. 

Do

You can walk through the city centre and you can cycle in the nature park Hollandse Biesbos or even as far as Kinderdijk.

There are also many sports clubs and soccer fields you can visit. Dordrecht is a green city that has many parks and recreation areas in the suburbs.

Buy

Shopping in the centre of Dordrecht is centred around the Voorstraat, the Sarisgang and the Statenplein (Staten Square). The Voorstraat is 1,200 m (3,900 ft) long, making it the longest shopping street in the Netherlands. Markets are held every Friday and Saturday on the Statenplein and in the Sarisgang and on Tuesday in the Dubbeldam quarter.

Eat

You can find a lot of foreign food, albeit with varying levels of authenticity, spread about the town: Chinese, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese, at least.

  • Many nice restaurants are around the Statenplein and outdoor tables abound in good weather.
  • Scheffersplein off Wijnstraat (Wine Street) is also ringed with many restaurants and outdoor tables.

Drink

Other than a range of restaurants serving alcohol, and a few other bars apparently chiefly peopled by older local alcoholics, nightlife seems to be mainly centered around the Scheffersplein bridge/square.

  • The Hide Away. A charismatic bar run by a Dutch/Scottish traveller couple with a dedicated band of regular customers. Stylistically informed by the British Isles, the proprietors wish the location to remain unpublished. (updated Mar 2024)

Sleep

In town

There is a relative shortage of hotels in the city. Judging from old maps of the town, there used to be more, but they have faded with the regional economy.

There are no real budget options in Dordrecht proper. There are two bed and breakfasts near the central bridge over the harbour behind the big church that is potentially cheaper than the hotels. One reported budget option, unconfirmed, is a Luthier's shop around the corner to the southeast of the Bellevue Hotel.

  • Innercity Hotel, Johan de Wittstraat 35-37 (Walk a few hundred metres down the road that runs from directly outside the train station, and it's on the left.), ☏ +31 78 611-9933, . Modern. The biggest drawback of this hotel is relative expense and lack of audio privacy. With only 17 rooms, the architects evidently decided to "pack 'em in", and it shows. Still, probably the best option for those minding the budget a little bit but unwilling to sleep out of town. All floors are lift-accessible. Free Wi-Fi. €100 (single room). 
  • Villa Augustus, Oranjelaan, ☏ +31 78 639 3111, . Slightly outside of town, this designer hotel is something of an icon for the city. A sort of walled garden complex with a thoroughly post-modern castle tower, visitors are rewarded with views, an excellent garden restaurant, and a quaint theme of dancing rabbits presumably inspired by the neighbouring Energiehaus theatre. Accessible by city bus. From €165/night. 

Outside town
  • 🌍 Stayokay Dordrecht, Baanhoekweg 25 (Located at the edge of the national park 'De Hollandse Biesbosch'), ☏ +31 78 621 2167. Better than standard hostel fare. Clean and modern. Conexxion bus 4 from the central station. About 8 km (5.0 mi). From €20 a night in a dorm room. 
  • 🌍 Natuurvriendenhuis De Kleine Rug (NIVON huis De kleine rug), Loswalweg 1, 3315 LB, Dordrecht (from railway station Dordrecht Stadhouderspolder 10min walk. Navigate to Loswalweg 3, 3315 LB, Dordrecht and then phone the house; a boat will come and get you.), ☏ +3188 0990962, . Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. The house provides a bed living room, kitchen where you can cook and outdoor space. NIVON houses are run by volunteers. Nivon is part of Friends of Nature (international abbreviation: NFI, for German: Naturfreunde International) an international movement with a background in the social democratic movement, which aims to make the enjoyment of nature accessible to the wider community by providing appropriate recreational and travel facilities. €28.70 a night for non members and €19.10 for members. Sheets are €6 and a towel €1.50. (updated Aug 2021)

Go next
  • The historical and picturesque city of Gorinchem is nearby. See the intact bastions.
  • Dordrecht is also within cycling distance of the Kinderdijk. Route maps are available at the VVV visitor information bureau.
Routes through Dordrecht
Brielle ← Rotterdam ←  W  E  → Gorinchem → Arnhem
Rotterdam ← Zwijndrecht ←  N  S  → Breda → Antwerp


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